---
title: Proverbs 20
slug: kjv/proverbs-20
createdAt: 2024-08-21T03:20:19.892Z
---

**1 **Wine *is* a mocker, strong drink *is* raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

**2 **The fear of a king *is* as the roaring of a lion: *whoso* provoketh him to anger sinneth *against* his own soul.

**3 ***It is* an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

**4 **The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; *therefore* shall he beg in harvest, and *have* nothing.

**5 **Counsel in the heart of man *is like* deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

**6 **Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

**7 **The just *man* walketh in his integrity: his children *are* blessed after him.

**8 **A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

**9 **Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

**10 **Divers weights, *and* divers measures, both of them *are* alike abomination to the LORD.

**11 **Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work *be* pure, and whether *it be* right.

**12 **The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

**13 **Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, *and* thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

**14 ***It is* naught, *it is* naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

**15 **There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge *are* a precious jewel.

**16 **Take his garment that is surety *for* a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

**17 **Bread of deceit *is* sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

**18 ***Every* purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

**19 **He that goeth about *as* a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

**20 **Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

**21 **An inheritance *may be* gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

**22 **Say not thou, I will recompense evil; *but* wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

**23 **Divers weights *are* an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance *is* not good.

**24 **Man's goings *are* of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

**25 ***It is* a snare to the man *who* devoureth *that which is* holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

**26 **A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

**27 **The spirit of man *is* the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

**28 **Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

**29 **The glory of young men *is* their strength: and the beauty of old men *is* the gray head.

**30 **The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so *do* stripes the inward parts of the belly.